A message from Nate Mouttet, vice president for enrollment management and marketing: We have received very positive responses to the first of our two April Admitted Student Preview events and anticipate hosting 250 families on our campus on April 5–6. This special event is a key strategy in our new student enrollment efforts. As the name implies, it’s just for admitted students and includes an overnight stay in the residence halls, campus tours, and Seattle adventures. Parents are also invited to their own events to learn more about life at Seattle Pacific.

We want our guests to have a great experience, and finding parking to start the event is an important part. We are asking for your help as we reserve a significant portion of the Dravus Parking Lot on Thursday, April 5, and Friday, April 6.

Here’s how you can help:

• Taking mass transit and leaving your car at home will save a parking spot.
• Consider carpooling to reduce the number of cars on campus those days.
• If you are driving and parking, please use the Emerson and McKenna parking lots — and all of the parking further into or further away from campus. This means more spots will be available for guests near Gwinn Commons, where programming will take place.
• Note: Please avoid parking in the First Free Methodist Church parking lot, as they need those spaces for events at the church.

Thank you in advance for helping us accommodate our guests for one of the biggest campus events this year. We’ll send you more information about the second event as we get closer.

A message from the University Chaplain Search Committee: We will welcome the second of two University Chaplain finalists, Rev. Lisa Ishihara, to campus this week.

Rev. Ishihara has been the director of chapel programs at Biola University in La Mirada, California, for 10 years. She is an ordained clergyperson in the Pacific Coast Japanese Conference of the Free Methodist Church. She received her BA from California State University at Fullerton, and two master’s degrees from Talbot School of Theology. Rev. Ishihara has done extensive speaking and teaching, and contributed a chapter to the recent book Leading Change Through Diversity in Spiritual Development.

We would love to hear feedback from faculty and staff! There are two ways to engage with the candidate this week: 

Open House/Coffee Chat — Wednesday, April 4, 10–11 a.m., Gazebo Room 

This is an informal time for faculty and staff to grab a cup of coffee and join the candidate, along with current University Chaplain Bo Lim, for conversation, questions, and engagement.

Public Presentation — Homily/Q&A — Wednesday, April 4, 3–4 p.m., First Free Methodist Church (Sanctuary)

This is a more formal time for the candidate to introduce herself, to give a 20-minute homily, and to engage in a Q&A with faculty, staff, and students. There will be a chance to give formal feedback following this time.

For the annual Winifred E. Weter Faculty Award Lecture for Meritorious Scholarship on Tuesday, April 3, Associate Professor of Theology Brian Bantum will explore how the implicit theology of the icon shaped an understanding of what it means to be human and who could reflect God’s image. The lecture begins at 7 p.m. in Upper Gwinn Commons. This annual lecture provides a public platform in which the claims of the liberal arts in the Christian university are espoused.

The SPU Jazz Ensemble will perform live (and online) on local public radio station KNKX (88.5 FM) in Nickerson Studios on Thursday, April 19, at 12:15 p.m. From 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., the Music Department will host the next Futures in Music series with KNKX General Manager Joey Cohn and Jazz Host Abe Beeson talking about their careers in radio.

Seattle Pacific has 30 students who are veterans and who are graduating with their bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degrees. Special stoles have been designed for veterans to wear with their regalia at the graduation events. Stoles cost $25 and are provided through donations to the Veterans Graduating Fund. The goal is raise $800 by May 25. Donations can be made online. (Select “other” in the designation category and type in “Veterans Graduating Fund.”) Donations are tax deductible.

Summer reservation requests are now being taken for the Faculty/Staff House at Camp Casey Conference Center on Whidbey Island. The dates of stay are June 11 through September 24, 2018. Reservation requests are due by April 6. Summer requests are based on years of service to SPU and past summer stays at Casey. Employees are ranked by their years of service as verified by Human Resources. Once the ranking is developed, the past summer stay history is cross checked. If you have stayed at Casey during the summer, your ranking is replaced with the years it has been since your stay at Casey. If you have questions, contact Camp Casey at 866-661-6604. Visit the Camp Casey website to request a reservation.

From the Wellness Initiative: We’re all familiar with stress — but how is stress uniquely affecting college students? Learn more about stress and its impact on college students in the Wellness blog. 

SPU Retail Dining is teaming up with intramural sports to promote health and wellness. Earn special coupons when you attend intramural Zumba or R.I.P.P.E.D. classes. Sign up on the SPU IM Leagues website for Zumba and R.I.P.P.E.D. classes beginning April 2 in Brougham Pavilion.

Thanks to Pepsi and Gatorade, SPU Retail Dining will host a tasting with free samples of Bubly Sparkling Water and Gatorade Whey Protein Bars on Wednesday, April 4, 11 a.m.–1:30 p.m. outside the C-Store (if raining, the tasting will be on the 1st floor of Gwinn Commons). 

Learn about the latest research in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and find out about local resources available to individuals and families at “Voices of Autism: Individuals, Families, and Professionals” on Saturday, April 21, 1–4:30 p.m. in Nickerson Studios. The event will feature a community resource fair, a keynote lecture on advocacy from an adult on the spectrum, and a panel discussion to share the experiences and perspectives of those living with ASD. The event is hosted by the School of Psychology, Family, and Community.

The Danny Helseth Project presents an evening of groove-oriented chamber music on Saturday, April 7, 7:30 p.m. in Nickerson Studios. Led by Assistant Professor of Music Danny Helseth, the evening will feature works from the recently released album, "The Danny Helseth Project: Thoughts From the Groove,” as well as a world premiere composition by SPU Associate Professor of Music Stephen Michael Newby. The event will be livestreamed, and is free and wheelchair accessible.

The Art Department is proud to announce "Sword in the Heart," a solo exhibition of artwork by graduating senior Greg Shaw, at the Art Center Gallery through Friday, April 6. His work is part of a series of exhibits by art students in the Class of 2018.

Beginning Autumn Quarter 2018, the library will offer a new minor in information studies. Learn more about this program — which explores the dynamic relationships between information, technology, and people — on Friday, April 13, 12–1:30 p.m., in the Library Seminar Room. A light lunch will be provided.

Faculty and staff are invited to a discussion of the film, Black Panther, on Friday, April 6, 12:30–1:30 p.m. in Weter 202. The discussion will be led by Associate Professor of Theology Brian Bantum, and hosted by Jeffrey Overstreet, adjunct English faculty member.

A message from Campus Dining: We are launching a pilot program for meals-to-go in Gwinn Commons. Here’s how the “Choose to Reuse” (CTR) program works. Visit the website for more information.

1.  Join the program by purchasing a Choose to Reuse (CTR) container or clip for $5 from the cashier in Gwinn Commons Dining Hall. Purchases can be made with points. 
2. Purchase your meal in Gwinn and trade your clip with the cashier to receive a sanitized CTR container.
3. Review the program rules sheet and fill your CTR container with your meal.
4.  Exit, eat, and enjoy! After selecting your meal, collect your compostable utensils by the cashier station, exit the dining hall, and enjoy your to-go meal.
5. Remove, return, and repeat: Remove or wipe out leftover food from the container. Drop it off in the return bin at Gwinn Dining Hall, C-Store, or Bertona Street Grill and collect a clip from the cashier to repeat steps 2-5.

The Spanish Conversation Table is open to anyone who wants to speak with others in Spanish. Beginners are welcome. The table meets Fridays, 11 a.m.–12 p.m., in Marston 252. Bring your lunch and join us! If you have questions, email adjunct faculty member Vilma Illanes at villanes@spu.edu. Bienvenidos a la Mesa de Español!

You have until 9:59 a.m. on Tuesday, April 3, to have stationery orders delivered on April 13. Stationery orders are delivered once a month. Orders made after 10 a.m. on April 3 will be delivered May 11. To see deadlines and delivery dates for the remainder of the fiscal year, visit the “Create an Order” stationery page in Banner. For more information, contact Hope McPherson in University Communications at hmcpherson@spu.edu.

The 10th of each month is the last day to make changes to your upcoming payroll check. Do you need to add or remove your spouse and/or children from your health care plans? If so, contact Human Resources (HR) to complete the appropriate form. Changes might include events that are expected to impact your benefits and deductions, such as your spouse or children gaining or losing coverage due to employment, birth, marriage, etc. Additionally, any changes you wish to make to your 403(b) account contributions must be made by the 10th of the month. For changes to your 403(b) account, contact Transamerica Retirement Solutions at 1-888-676-5512 (5 a.m.–6 p.m. PST), or 1-800-755-5801. If you have any other benefits-related changes, call Mardeth Hughes in HR at 206-281-2816.

Bloodworks Northwest will host a blood drive on campus April 5-6, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. near the entrance of Tiffany Loop. Schedule an appointment online.

The Faculty/Staff Bulletin is published every week during the academic year. If you have information or event news, send it as soon as possible to Bulletin editor Tracy Norlen at fsb-editor@spu.edu. Submissions may be edited for clarity. The next deadline is Thursday, April 5. The next Bulletin will be published Monday, April 9.

Professor of English Susan VanZanten's recent quarterly column for the online journal Bearings from Collegeville Institute was recently published. The essay was titled "Christians and Stuff: Beyond Downsizing and Death-cleaning."

Assistant Professor of Political Science and Director of Global Development Studies Brad Murg was invited to serve on a panel at the World Affairs Council to discuss sustainable development goals and the School of Business, Government, and Economic's commitment to the UN Global Compact's "Principles for Responsible Management Education" initiative. Brad was also interviewed by the Nikkei Asian Review about Japanese foreign policy in South and Southeast Asia.

The cover story for the April 2018 issue of Christianity Today was written by Mike Hamilton, emeritus professor of history. The article is titled "How a Humble Evangelist Changed Christianity As We Know It" (Christianity Today: The Billy Graham Issue, pp. 22-30.) The story also appeared online.